Saturday, February 25, 2012

Hamas' Haniyeh: "We Will Never Recognize Israel" - Supporters: "Down With Israel"

Challah Hu Akbar

On Friday, Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh gave a speech at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo during a protest against Israel and Syria’s Assad.

During the speech Haniyeh said that "We will never recognize Israel.” In addition, Haniyeh stressed that “resistance” against Israel will continue. During the speech, attendees chanted “Down With Israel.”


Haniyeh was accompanied by Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri and Mahmoud Zahar as well as Kamal Helbawy, a former spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood.. Update: I have come across a report on Haniyeh's speech at Palestine Today, which reports that Haniyeh also said that through "faith and unity" Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque will be liberated from the "unjust enemy." Haniyeh also praised those "stationed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque standing up" to Israeli security forces with "bare chests."

Update: Egypt Independent has reported on the event:
Around 3,000 worshipers at Al-Azhar Mosque broke out into chants supporting the liberation of Jerusalem from Israeli control, as Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip took to the podium to speak after Friday prayers.

The protesters could be heard chanting, “We sacrifice our blood and souls for Al-Aqsa [Mosque in Jerusalem].”
ElderofZiyon has a write up on the speech as well based on reporting from Masrawy.

Haniyeh continued, saying,"Our hope is not only the independence of Palestine, but the independence of the Islamic nation [where we will] put an end to the current situation of political wilderness, cultural and foreign interference and encroachment of the Zionists."

He said that there was a Zionist plot for the Judaization of Jerusalem which wrested it from the Arab and Muslim world it belongs to, calling on Muslims to support Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem.

Hundreds of congregants chanted in response, saying, 'Khaybar Khaybar oh Jews, the army of Mohammed will return," and "We, sons of Hassan al-Banna .. Islam! Islam!" (Hassan al-Banna was the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.)
Here is video of Haniyeh’s speech, sorry no subtitles.

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